Rain Water Treatment

Published on by in Technology

Hello Dears

I have 2x25 M3  concrete under ground water tank.

all my tanks are full with rain water  from  Galvanized iron top roof.

I would like to know which treatment i can make to let that water be come fresh drinking water for my family

Regards

Seff

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13 Answers

  1. HS Great.

    You already have 3 experts opine.. AB+AR+EO, 

    Will like to add, do phyto remediation using a few herbal plants, add neem basil.

    Have a fountain to increase your dissolved O2 up its %.

    We give always tips to communities to follow simple rules..

    Follow C A T S..ie

    C is forcclean and clear.

    A is for alkalinity 7.5 above

    T is for tasty.. Ca Mg Na salts

    S stands for  Sterility .

    Well wishes.

    Ajit Sir.

  3. Hi Daer Seff:

    First off, I suggest you perform an accurate water analysis with a microbial approach to make sure about any undesirable issues. To use that water for potable uses, first, you should filter it through a 3 stage microfiltration:

    1- Mesh filter to remove dust and trash,

    2-  A,  5 Micron PP melt blown filter (in housing)

    3-  A, 1  Micron PP melt blown filter (in housing)

    4- Carbon filter of proper size (you can`t pass all the water from a single cartridge)

    Then you can use a UV disinfection system to make sure everything is alright. Please bear in mind that:

    1-If water stays still for a long time, it's not a good idea to use it all as potable water. after all the above processes, use a home RO system to drink that water.

    2-In such big Volume of water you may find dead urban animals, try to inspect the water visually.

    3-It would be better to use that water for irrigation of the garden or use it in the swimming pool after performing relevant tests.

    Good luck with your great water reserve :)

     

  4. You have a lot of suggestions already, but it will be nice if you know the quality of the raw rainwater before you decide on the type of treatment or combination of treatments to use.

    Also, before chlorination, you need to do a chlorine demand test to give an idea of what volume of chlorine solution to use. Remenber, chlorination should be at low turbidity of 1-5 NTU to reduce the risk of chlorinationation by-products.

    As somebody suggested, this may involve emptying the tank to ensure everything is in place before starting the treatment.

    Good luck

  5. Hi Hakizimana, millions of households and rural schools catch rainwater in concrete, galvanized iron or plastic tanks all over the world and use it directly without any treatment.  This is not to say it is 100% safe, but contamination is usually very low.  What is usually recommended is to incorporate a "first flush bypass" system which ensures that the first rainwater from a rainfall event (containing the most contaminants) by-passes the tank and only the clean fresh water then enters the tank.  Using a small amount of chlorine will safeguard the water (about 250 ml household bleach will be adequate for a full 25 m3 tank), but will give it a slight taste (losing it's freshness).  Enjoy the fruit of your labours.

    1 Comment

    1. The First Flush is key to providing potable water. Once this is done any other filtration is just needed to make sure it stays potable as Shawn mentions below.

  6. Seff,

    As someone who has a potable rainwater harvesting system at my house and I work for a company who provides these systems in the U.S. all the time, I would recommend the following filtration system steps to ensure the water it safe. 

    First- sediment filtration at 10 microns or less. 

    Second- carbon activated filter to remove VOCs and odor

    Third- UV light for disinfection

    Its also a good idea to when starting the system to shock the system with chlorine to eliminate any residual. Only shock the withe system with chlorine once a year. Using chlorine inside your rainwater storage tanks regularly is not a good solution because it can effect the healthy ecosystem in your storage tanks. It will also cause wear and tear on your pump and plumbing system. Stick with UV treatment as much as possible. Keep in mind that rainwater is naturally clean water. 

    Below are package purification systems for home owners. If you are in a different country just let me know and I will point you to a distributor in your country. 

     

    https://rainwatermanagement.com/collections/filtration-purification/products/ihs12-d4-home-uv-2-sump-unit-12-gpm

     

    https://rainwatermanagement.com/collections/filtration-purification/products/8-gpm-rack-mounted-uv-filtration-unit-with-lamp-timer-controller-and-20-sediment-filter

     

    Good luck and let me know if I can help at all. 

     

    Shawn Crawford

  8. Dear Seff, just for simplicity, you may treat it with a simple vertical constructed wetland and you may use for the final water tank a UV-lamp for disinfection. To be very sure for the little volume part for drinking purpose only, filter this small volume part through a gravity clay filter. Kindly avoid Chlorine for disinfection! Chlorine is OK just for temp. emergencies. Expensive Active carbon at this final point of drinking water treatment only if you have or expect heavy air pollution (which is contaminating most likely your rainwater). Best Regards, Detlef from East-Germany

  9. The concrete will negatively affect the water quality over time. A two-part epoxy or similar coating would benefit the overall quality if you can void the tank and fully dry it before application. 

    Although I'm intrigued by the document Abubacker Siddick posted, if you want to keep it simply you could use a basic, low flow swimming pool pump and filter, which could help with circulation so that the chlorine doesn't concentrate at the bottom.

  11. Walmart has chlorine test strips with the supplies for spas and hot tubs.  $7.95 for 50 strips.   Use chlorine laundry bleach and figure out how to mix the tank.  A flow of compressed air bubbles such as large fish tank aerator will work for mixing.    Add bleach in small increments and mix.   For drinking water you want to keep the residual chlorine between 1-2 parts per million (or milligrams per liter.)   This will achieve disinfection.   Also follow advice of Phakee Engineering to get small household water filter.     

  12. Chlorine Beach 

  13. You can seeking for portable fillter that suitable for household or small treatment capacity

    2 Comments

    1. You have a lot of suggestions already, but it will be nice if you know the quality of the raw rainwater before you decide on the type of treatment or combination of treatments to use.

      Also, before chlorination, you need to do a chlorine demand test to give an idea of what volume of chlorine solution to use. Remenber, chlorination should be at low turbidity of 1-5 NTU to reduce the risk of chlorinationation by-products.

      As somebody suggested, this may involve emptying the tank to ensure everything is in place before starting the treatment.

      Good luck

    2. Rainwater Harvesting is a must Globally I could offer a design if you could sen me the following Data

      1. Location 2. Roof Cover area 3. Rainfall figures for last            5 years 6 Availablity of groundwater 7 8 If there are well nearby brief discretion of the well/s

      Eng. Tissa Meepe Sri Lanka